When new users install aptosid, they tend to just boot the cd, choose their keyboard layout in System settings, try some things and install... and reboot. But the passwords they entered don't match at login because the keyboard layout differs. I've recommended aptosid many times but a lot of people who tried had that same problem. very frustrating for users who just installed their first linux and can't wait. Plus usually you got just one computer and can't check the manual. And you wouldn't know where to look (Password not working??).

So I thought keyboard layout for login could be automatically taken from the one chosen in X (system settings).
Or there could be a tab to choose layouts, including the one chosen in X.
But that's up to the kde folks, looks like.

So for aptosid, it could just be a warning, like "Check your keyboard layout at boot!" when a wrong password is entered at login.
Or insisting on it at boot, or in the manual (but that is unreachable when the problem occurs).

Or some better idea that will show up here...

Romki

slh

Post subject: RE: Keyboard layout at login Posted: 20.12.2011, 18:20

Joined: 2010-08-25
Posts: 919

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The release notes mention that explicitly under the "Localisation" topic.

Given that systemsettings or the graphical locale chooser can only act upon the user session, there is no technical means to apply these settings system wide.

romki

Post subject: RE: Keyboard layout at login Posted: 20.12.2011, 19:12

Joined: 2011-12-20
Posts: 2

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Not really, it starts with: "A special feature of kde-full releases..."
I always took kde-lite (1 cd). And it doesn't explain how to do in that case.
There is no french (swiss) keyboard layout to choose at boot. Which is my keyboard layout. So the only way to fix it is with "dpkg-reconfigure console-data"...in tty1...given you understand what's wrong and adapt your password.
Or you get it and adapt your password to the us? keyboard at login (which is a real lucky guess).

Anyway 2 things I wouldn't ask newbies to handle.

More than that, some people will never wait and read (at boot or release notes). And they could do fine! Except for this little trap. I've seen this happen several times.

I'm just trying to avoid traps for new users. This is the one in which I saw them fall the most.

kwoby

Post subject: RE: Keyboard layout at login Posted: 23.12.2011, 18:24

Joined: 2010-09-18
Posts: 3

Status: Offline

+1

I also would like to choose language AND keyboard - layout at the beginning of the installation like other distro do it (suse - mint...)having the full choice of all keyboard-types..

I also have a swiss french keyboard and I also find it very cumborsome to do everything by hand, nothing for a beginner...

I also would like to choose language AND keyboard - layout at the beginning of the installation like other distro do it (suse - mint...)having the full choice of all keyboard-types..

You can (and should) do that already, the most common (for a random definition of common) combinations are directly accessible at boot time via [F2] and related menus, but basically all options are available by supplying lang=de_CH or other valid locale definitions as cheatcode at boot time of the live/ installation media; this is the preferred way to select languages, keyboard keymaps and locales.

A reference of available cheatcodes is documented in the manual. Given that password entries and similar tasks depend on correct keymaps, it's essential to select the correct combination at boot time of the live/ installation media already.

Or in other words to the "French Swiss" ... does lang=fr_CH as a cheatcode work for you? If not what is "wrong" with it, and is that something you should tweak for yourself or something you think should be different by default for lang=fr_CH.

I think adding options to the installer is unlikely. Probably more chance of adding a screen to tell you what language, keyboard and timezone your have now and hence will have in your install, and that you should reboot and give the correct cheatcodes for you before installing if the current values are incorrect.